We had SO much fun at our Rowdy Girl's birthday party. From the hotdogs and cake on a cone, to the whispered happy birthday song and Peter Pan at dusk in the backyard. Just a wonderful, magical time with our favorite first cousins. Happy Birthday, sweet girls. We love you!

We spent Easter up at Lake Kiowa with Michael's family. Always fun! Wish I'd remembered my good camera. Grr!

Yesterday, I taught some lessons at a nearby high school. I took Gracie with me.

For the most part, she wanted me to hold her and occasionally peeked at the students.

My student, Nabean, asks everyone to call him Beans. I introduced Gracie to him, she said hello, and then buried her face in my shoulder for the next 20 minutes.

When his lesson was over, he smiled at her and said, "see ya later, Gracie".

She popped her head up and answered, "see ya later, Peas."

I wish there wasn't a shadow on her face, but this picture sums up Gracie's spring so far.

She's wearing her favorite dress. (The dress she climbs up in the closet to put on when I'm not looking.)

She's also wearing her little white sweater. The dress and sweater are married to each other. They may not be separated. Thus saith Gracie.

The other spring favorite is the Little Mermaid figurine (on loan from the Rowdy Girls). It's her latest bedtime lovey.

This spring, Jonah is all about Star Wars. He was introduced to the movie through the Lego video game, and now loves both. This led to the actual Star Wars Lego set which he now takes everywhere...

This year, we've connected a lot of dots, and started to realize that Jonah has some sensory integration issues.

We've always known he was a wiggly, high energy kid, and has always been easily and quickly overstimulated by loud sounds or too many visuals. Kindergarten has opened up a whole new can of worms, though.

Jonah's more-than-usual-need for movement (vestibular input) is a teeny bit deprived after a day of sitting. Without the vestibular input he's used to, he gets fidgety and his brain just gets muddled. He can't think or focus!

So we've come up with a bit of vestibular fuel for him at home...

We were able to borrow this Ikea swing from the Rowdy Girls, and it's become a part of our daily routine. We swing in the mornings (to fill his empty tank before school), then we swing again after school (before homework), since he's usually running on empty by then too.

Jonah usually wants to spin longer (and faster) than anyone is willing to spin him, and he never gets dizzy!